Traffic light



Dec. 8, 1936 K. E. FENTON ET AL TRAFFIC LIGHT Filed Oct. 21, 1935 5 J 3 a n 4 K 3 J/ 0 j 2) 1 0 pl 6 n m U fi v M x w :0; 7 M 1 v a I f i 3 j M WWW m Z i Z H Mg 75 E i w M m X a m@ M 0 J a I 4 M fiWF 2 fi a m M 0 1 w m J m Patented Dec. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES TRAFFIC LIGHT Kenneth E. Fenton, Pennville, and Harry B. Smith, Upland, Ind.

Application October 21, 1935, Serial No. 45,880

3 Claims.

Our present invention relates to traflic lights which register the contemplated direction of the turning of a vehicle, the same being positively controlled by the driver of the vehicle.

An object of the invention is the provision of a direction signalling device to be attached to the rear end of an automobile or other similar vehicle.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a trafiic light or signalling device which will accurately indicate the contemplated direction of turning, which is simple of operation and construction, and which is economical to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will suggest themselves in the course of the following description, and that which is new will be correlated in the appended claims.

The most satisfactory manner of carrying out the principles of the invention in a practical, comprehensive, and efiicient manner is shown in the accompanying sheet of drawings, in Which;-

Figure l is a partial elevation of a mounting panel with controlling switches mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is a detail section through the mounting panel, taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the trafiic light.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the traflic light, taken from line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail cross section through the device, taken on line 5--5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail longitudinal section through the device, taken on line 66 of Figure 3.

Figure '7 is an elevation of the device, showing the same as indicating a left turn.

Figure 8 is an elevation of the device, showing the same as indicating a right turn.

Figure 9 is a detail elevation of the central dividing plate.

Figure 10 is an elevation of the device combined with a tail light.

Similar indices designate like parts throughout the several views.

In order that the construction, the operation, and the advantages of our invention may be more fully understood and appreciated, we will now take up a detailed description thereof, in which we will set forth the same as fully and as comprehensively as we may.

In the drawing, A designates the mounting or instrument panel through which the switches l and 2 are secured, the panel being preferably formed of sheet metal. The panel A has apertures formed therethrough for the reception of secured to the end portion of the switch i by 10 means of the threaded screw '1, and the wire 6 is removably secured to the end portion of the switch 2 by means of the threaded screw 8, as shown in Figure 2. The wires 2? and 28 are secured to the sides of the switches I and 2 by the screws 29 and 38 respectively, as shown in Figure 2.

The tramc light, per se, is preferably formed of sheet metal, the same having the back 9, the

top portion 9, the bottom portion 9", and the left and right end portions 9 and 9 all of which are formed integral with each other, thereby forming a metal box.

The mounting bracket I0 is rigidly secured to the back 9 and the bottom side 9" by means of the vertically and horizontally extending legs H3 and it" respectively, the same being rigidly secured thereto by welding, or by other suitable means.

The angle stops H are rigidly secured to the top and bottom sides 9 and Q" by welding, or other suitable means, and are used to form stops against which the glass 52 rests.

I3 designates the metal cover of the traffic light, the same having all of its edges turned at right angles with relation to the face or main portion thereof. It designates the aperture which is formed in the face of the cover H3, and which is substantially in the shape of a doubleheaded arrow, as shown in Figures 3 and 10, the same being for the purpose of allowing light to emanate through the exposed portion of the glass i2 whereby the contemplated direction of turning is indicated.

The cover 13 is removably secured to the end portions 9 and 9 by means of the threaded screws I4 which extend into threaded apertures formed in the ends Q and 9".

l5 designates the central dividing plate which is rigidly secured to the back 9 and the top and bottom sides 9' and 9" respectively by welding or other suitable means. An M-shaped notch I 5 is formed in one edge of the dividing plate 15, the same being for the purpose of allowing light to pass therebeyond, with the edge of the 5 M-shaped notch I5 obstructing the light, and causing a shadow to be cast on a portion of the exposed glass area, as indicated by the lines X and Y of Figures 7 and 8 respectively.

Aper'tures are formed through the back member 9, through which the sockets I6 and H extend, the same being rigidly secured therein by welding or other well-known means. The electric bulbs I8 and I9 are removably secured in their respective sockets I6 and I1 in the usual manner. The plugs 20 and 2I are removably secured in the opposite ends of the sockets I6 and I! in the usual manner. The wires 5 and 6 are secured, at one of their ends, in their respective plugs 20 and 2I, and at their opposite ends to their respective switches I and 2.

The numeral 22 designates a tail light case which may, if desired, be formed integrally with the upper portion of the trafiic light, thereby forming a combination tail and traffic light. The numeral 23 designates the tail light lens, 24 designates the license plate bracket which extends upwardly from the tail light case 22, 25 designates a license plate carried by the bracket 24, and the numerals 26 designate bolts which rigidly secure the license plate 23 to the bracket 24.

The operation of the traffic light is substantially as follows;

Electricity, for the operation of the traffic light, is obtained from a storage battery which is in connection with the vehicle on which the trafiic light is attached. One of the battery terminal posts is grounded to the frame of the vehicle in the usual manner with the other terminal being connected to the switches I and 2 by means of the wires 21 and 28 respectively. The traflic light is rigidly secured, through the bracket I0, to a frame member of the vehicle.

When it is desired to indicate a contemplated left turn, the push stem I' is pushed inwardly and causing its inner end to contact the inner end of the screw I, thereby closing the circuit from the battery terminal through the wire 21, the switch I, the wire 5 to the bulb I8 and grounded through the socket I6, the case 9, the bracket III, thence through the frame to which the grounded terminal of the battery is connected, thereby completing the circuit and causing the filament I8 to glow, the same providing light which emanates through the glass I2 and through the aperture I3 of the cover I3, as shown in Figure 7.

It will be noted, by Figure '7, that the right end of the arrow is not lighted by the bulb I8 due to the M-shaped notch I5, of the central dividing plate I5, the edges of which obstruct a portion of the light emanating therefrom, and casting a shadow on the glass I2, thereby causing the arrow to appear as having only one head with the same pointing toward the left.

When it is desired to indicate a contemplated right turn, the push stem 2 is pushed inwardly and causing its inner end to contact the inner end of the screw 8, thereby closing the circuit from the battery terminal through the wire 28, the switch 2, the wire 6 to the bulb I9 and grounded through the socket H, the case 9, the bracket I0, thence through the frame to which the grounded terminal of the battery is connected, thereby completing the circuit and causing the filament I9 to glow, the same providing light which emanates through the glass I2 and through the aperture I3 of the cover I3, as shown in Figure 8.

It will be noted, by Figure 8, that the left end of the arrow is not lighted by the bulb I9 due to the M-shaped notch I5, of the central dividing plate I5, the edges of which obstruct a portion of the light emanating therefrom, and casting a shadow on the glass I2, thereby causing the arrow to appear as having only one head with the same pointing to the right.

In order to break either of the two circuits, it is only necessary to release the pressure on the push stem, which automatically breaks the respective electrical circuit.

It is to be understood that the switches and traffic light may be directly connected to the storage battery by means of two wires instead of the above-described one-wire circuit, and to obtain the same results thereby.

It is also to be understood that minor changes may be made in the several parts and in the ar rangement thereof without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages, thereof.

Having now fully described the invention and the parts thereof, What we desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a directional traffic light, the combination of a case, a cover for said case, said cover having an elongated aperture formed in the face portion thereof, a glass lens securely positioned in said case by means of said cover, a bracket rigidly secured to and carrying said case, a single centrally located flat dividing plate rigidly secured in said case and dividing the same into two separate compartments, said dividing plate having an M-shaped notch formed in one edge thereof with the base of the M positioned adjacent the glass lens and adapted to cast a V- shaped shadow on the glass lens, an electric light bulb removably secured in each of said compartments, and means for completing an electrical circuit through each of said bulbs independently of the other.

2. A directional trafiic light having in combination, a case having a back, top and bottom sides, and ends, a single centrally located fiat dividing plate rigidly secured in said case, the same having an M-shaped notch formed in one edge thereof, a glass lens closing the open side of said case and contacting the base of the M-shaped notch of the dividing plate, a cover removably secured to said case and retaining the glass in position, said cover having an elongated aperture formed through the face portion thereof with the outline of an arrow head formed at each end of the elongated aperture, and means for producing light within said case and indicating the direction of a contemplated turn by light emanating through the glass lens and the elongated aperture formed in the cover.

3. In a traflic light comprising a case havin a glass lens positioned in one side thereof, a cover having an elongated aperture formed therethrough with the outline of an arrow head formed at each end thereof and forming a part of the elongated aperture, a single flat dividing plate having an M-shaped notch formed in the edge nearest the "glass lens with the base of the M- shaped notch positioned adjacent the glass lens, said dividing plate being rigidly secured substantially midway between the. ends of said case, and means for producing light Within said case, all substantially as shown and described.

KENNETH E. FENTON. HARRY B, SMITH. 

